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[DUNBAR PLUMBING]

A call came into our shop in regards to a ceiling that collapsed under the jacuzzi tub on the 2nd floor that was in the master bathroom. This was the first time the tub was used in quite some time, and the customer went on to say that it was when the water reached the overflow is when the water came down through the ceiling. Read more!!!!

[DUNBAR PLUMBING]

 


When we arrived at the home today on Clover Ridge Drive (Clover Ridge Drive is off of Taylor Mill Road, SR16 which is close to Calvary Christian School along with Taylor Mill Elementary and Taylor Mill Swim Club) our first inspection of the tub was to remove the tub overflow plate.

Situations like these can be one of many different scenarios, and the most "probable" one is usually a dried up/cracked or deteriorated waste/overflow gasket that isn't sealing to the back side of the tub where the overflow is located in the drain system.

Removing the overflow plate instantly identified the problem, and what we saw wasn't surprising, as we've seen it too many times before.

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The problem?


Initial plumber who installed the drain overflow, which was probably a 1/2 kit that is comprised of SCH40 PVC pipe and fittings that is all solvent weld, meaning when it is initially made up, it is permanent and supposed to be trouble free for the life of the product.

Apparently someone either did not know how to measure, or they just did not hold the solvent weld joint together long enough and the connection grew and didn't fully stay in the socket. The overflow missed the hole by over an inch! 


There was tons of silicone that had been the additive to the goof up and apparently the caulk blew out at the bottom of the overflow, giving a straight shot for water to go everywhere but in the overflow drain.

I explained to the customer that this repair would be extensive, given the back side of this tub is the exterior wall of the home. Meaning, either the tub has to be removed (tile removal as well) or a cut into the vinyl siding, working off a ladder 12' off the ground to reach this backside to the tub to make the repair.

The tub is in good shape, but the chances of working on this drain is possible from the ceiling below.

Our goal is to follow up with the customer soon and explain to them before they replace the ceiling to go ahead and make this repair a permanent design, that way it does not happen again.

Even though we brought a new replacement tub/overflow gasket to correct the problem, the plumbing problem is far greater and will require some extensive work to correct poor workmanship done by the initial installing plumber.

There is plenty of work for us plumbers already, it's not pleasant however to be doing work that is a repair to fix one's ignorance in the plumbing field.

No way in hell that was installed without completely understanding how wrong that was, and what kind of problems it would leave the future homeowner with, down the road.

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Pictures of the misaligned tub drain overflow:

[Tags:]

Tags: tub leak  overflow gasket  tub overflow  tub overflow gasket  tub gasket leak